Module 2: Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP)

• Overview
• Reasons for Changing to EPP
• Getting Started
• Options for Action
• Advancing your program
• Resources

Reasons for Changing to EPP

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Examples of Success

State and local governments report a variety of environmental and cost-saving benefits from adopting EPP strategies. Here are a few success stories.

• Santa Monica, California, adopted an aggressive green-purchasing policy in the early 1990s. Shortly thereafter, the city began buying low-toxicity cleaning products, which have eliminated 3,200 pounds of hazardous materials annually and saved the city about 5 percent annually on expenses for cleaning products.
• Santa Monica also began buying 100 percent renewable electricity for all of its facilities. This purchase will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 13,672 tons, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) emissions by 16.2 tons, and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions by 14.6 tons annually. Because electricity generation produces 36 percent of all U.S. carbon dioxide emissions and generates 15 percent of all U.S. toxic emissions, numerous areas of the country—including Pennsylvania; Chicago, Illinois; and Santa Barbara and Oakland, California—are following Santa Monica’s lead.
• Cape May County, New Jersey, switched to an integrated pest management approach, significantly reduced its pesticide use, and saved $45,000 over five years. This purchase will help reduce the 4.5 billion pounds of chemicals used each year in the United States to control insects, rodents, and weeds.
• Pennsylvania; Seattle, Washington; San Diego, California; and other parts of the country are incorporating energy-efficiency standards for office products such as computers and photocopiers because they recognize that 50 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions in 2010 will come from using products purchased between now and then.

For additional information, read the State and Local Government Pioneers (2.29 MB PDF file) case study published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or visit the purchasing factoid page from New American Dream, which highlights the environmental benefits of buying green.

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